Maine Credit Unions Raise $25,000 For Food Drive

The Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has made a $25,000 donation to the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, Maine.

The funds will support the Good Shepherd Food Bank’s BackPack and School Pantry Programs. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised $4.8 million, including a record-setting $471,000 in 2012, the Maine Credit Union League said this week.

Volunteers from Maine’s credit unions also participated in the food banks first back-pack assembly session for the 2013-2014 school year.

“Maine’s credit unions are dedicated to people helping people of all ages,” said John Murphy, president of the Maine Credit Union League. “The problem of childhood hunger in our state is extreme. With one in four Maine children being food insecure, Maine ranks first in New England in terms of child food insecurity.”

Kristen Miale, president of The Good Shepherd Food Bank, said the contribution and multi-year commitment comes at a time when the need is rising.

“This gives us an opportunity to make a significant impact much sooner than we had anticipated,” she said. “The support of Maine’s credit unions is so important and this will make such a difference in the lives of Maine children not only with their hunger but in their ability to learn because children who have enough to eat tend to do better on their homework and in class. Because of this contribution and commitment, we are pleased to designate Maine’s credit unions as a childhood hunger hero to Maine children.”

The Good Shepherd Food Bank's BackPack Program provides children who are suffering the effects of chronic hunger with nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to eat during weekends and school vacations when those crucial school meals are unavailable. This school year, the Good Shepherd Food-Bank will be operating the BackPack Program in 20 schools in five counties, serving 800 children per week and providing approximately 185,000 meals to children during this school year, the organization said.